Self-Phase Modulation-Induced Instability of High-Power Narrow-Linewidth Fiber Amplifiers

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effect of self-phase modulation (SPM)-induced modulation instability (MI) on the spectral purity of high-power narrow-linewidth fiber amplifiers and established a spectral evolution model for SPM-induced MI in those amplifiers. The spectral evolution process of MI under different laser powers was simulated and analyzed. The results show that, at low power (100 W), SPM can cause a dynamic change in the spectral sideband secondary peak and the spectral wingspan. An increase in laser power led to the cascade effect of MI, forming a zigzag secondary sideband with a larger spectral width and causing the spectral main peak and spectral broadening to split. Experiments based on the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) of oscillating seed sources were carried out on high-power narrow-linewidth laser amplifiers, and the above spectral evolution phenomenon was observed. The experimental results indicate that the spectral evolution model based on SPM-induced MI can effectively explain the dynamic change in the spectral secondary peak, spectral wingspan and zigzag broadening phenomenon in the power amplification process of narrow-linewidth lasers.